subalpine

American

[suhb-al-pahyn, -pin] / sʌbˈæl paɪn, -pɪn /

adjective

pertaining to the regions at the foot of the Alps.
Botany. growing on mountains below the limit of tree growth, and above the foothill, or montane, zone.

subalpine British

/ sʌbˈælpaɪn /

adjective

situated in or relating to the regions at the foot of mountains
(of plants) growing below the treeline in mountainous regions

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of subalpine

First recorded in 1650–60; sub- + alpine

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Climate change is expected to disproportionately impact alpine and subalpine habitats.

From Seattle Times • May 22, 2024

Mountain goats are tied to rugged alpine and subalpine habitats.

From Seattle Times • May 22, 2024

The research concluded 41% of the study area's subalpine fir biomass is climatically exposed to some level of damage.

From Science Daily • May 14, 2024

Rise through subalpine terrain to marvel at the snowy Olympic range and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 14, 2023

Perhaps two thirds or more lie on the western flank of the range, and all are restricted to the alpine and subalpine regions.

From The Mountains of California by Muir, John

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023